Just build a new baseball park in the Coliseum parking lot. How is this such a hard concept to grasp for A's ownership?

-chef

Exactly Chef.

A new stadium would bring fans without a doubt. They want to get at those SJ corporate dollars. All the more reason why the Giants shouldn't just step aside. It's not like SJ is their last option.

If they tore down that monstrosity in centerfield, they probably wouldn't need a new park. Before Mt Davis and the continued selling off of all team talent so the A's ownership could pocket cash, the A's didn't have a problem drawing fans in Oakland. They outdrew the giants for many years.

The city isn't the problem, it's the ownership group.

I still like an earlier suggestion by a member on here that we give the A's San Jose if they take Zito off our hands. $46M. Take it or leave it.

Hey All,

I have no idea why the A's don't do exactly what the Giants did...build a stadium in or around their downtown area, and create a great environment where people will want to go. Restaurants and bars ACROSS THE STREET....maybe some trees and other non-asphalt covered green things...

There's nothing wrong with the A's fans...there's something wrong with the A's ownership.

LoneStar

"i guarantee that if the AAA's were in our shoes, they wouldnt cough up their territory for us either."

That's the problem, they were in our shoes and they did practically give us SJ for free - And that's why every AAAs fan thinks we should return the favor. Granted, they're conveniently ignoring the fact that SJ was not the tech start up capitol of the world then, and worth no where near as much as it is today revenue wise.

Ownership is the hardest thing of all to change in baseball. It has to get to McCourt levels of problems before the league will step in.

I think the A's could do decently well in a baseball park near downtown, but the question is, who's going to fund and build it? Nobody in place right now.

A move seems the most likely scenario.

werent they talking about trying to move into the Jack London Square area?

I don't see anybody backing the A's right now for a big build in Oakland. Plus, Jack London square is needed by the prostitutes to conduct their trade.

"Granted, they're conveniently ignoring the fact that SJ was not the tech start up capitol of the world then"

In 1992, it was, indeed, the tech start up capitol of the world. Actually, since much earlier than '92. More like the mid '60's or early '70's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon_Valley

I'm not making an argument for or against the Giants' claim of territorial rights. Just clarifying the chronology of Silicon Valley. I was employed there for more years than I care to mention.

Yeah the Victory Court site would be awesome for a ballpark. They need to make that happen. But fat chance, Oakland City govt isn't going to spend a dime on a new ballpark it sounds like.

" Oakland City govt isn't going to spend a dime on a new ballpark it sounds like."

Nor should they, or any city for that matter.

AT&T is great and the Giants are making a lot of money because they privately financed it. I'm so tired of all these team owners crying poor when it comes to new stadiums. If you can afford to build a good place for your team to play, you can't afford a team.

The only thing cities should be on the hook for are things like tax incentives on the land or cutting deals on selling the property itself. But taxpayers shouldn't be straddled with $400M bonds or tourist taxes or property tax increase just to build the richest guy in town a new ballpark.

What's happening in Sacramento with the Kings is a disgrace. The city is paying $200-250M of the $385M complex. The Maloofs played Johnson and the people of Sacramento like fools. They pitted Anaheim and Seattle and Sac against each other to see who would give up the most money...for the Maloofs to make more money.

Eff the A's and eff public stadium financing.

-chef

I disagree, public stadium financing is actually one area where I am in favor of more government spending. They're just going to waste the money anyway, they may as well spend it on something that will give people some enjoyment.

There have been a lot of economic studies showing that taxpayers and municipalities rarely get back their investment on public stadiums. Even with the increased tax revenue and employment opportunities.

IMO, they should be spending the money on schools, buses and roads and not lining the pockets of billionaires. Especially in a place like Oakland.

-chef

"Especially in a place like Oakland."

But that's my point, in Oakland they ARE spending the money on schools, buses, and roads etc. and it is still a terrible place. Supporting a new ballpark can't make things any worse.

I do think the A's will move to San Jose in a few years, and here's my take on this.

If we give the A's the South Bay rights, we get their East Bay rights. If the A's get a new park in San Jose, we'll still completely outdraw them annually, and their weekday crowds will just go up from 10,000 to 20,000.

I agree with you. They should not be spending millions of dollars prosecuting something like they did with Bonds either. It was not against the law, not even against the rules of Baseball at the time. A pure waste of the peoples money.

Oakland is broke.

http://oaklandlocal.com/article/oakland-give-pink-slips-several-hundred-city-workers